Shloka 56
भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनम् (Bhairava-avatāra-līlā-varṇanam) — “Narration of the Divine Play of Bhairava’s Descent”
कपालं ब्राह्मणः सद्यो भैरवस्य करांबुजात् । पपात भुवि तत्तीर्थमभूत्कापालमोचनम्
kapālaṃ brāhmaṇaḥ sadyo bhairavasya karāṃbujāt | papāta bhuvi tattīrthamabhūtkāpālamocanam
في الحال سقط إناءُ الجمجمة الخاصّ بالبراهمن من يدِ بهايرافا اللوتسية إلى الأرض؛ وصار ذلك الموضع بعينه تيرثا مقدّسًا يُدعى «كابالاموتشانا»، حيث انحلّت (خطيئة) الجمجمة وتحرّرت.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāpālamocana tīrtha in Kāśī: the skull (kapāla) associated with Brahmā’s sin (brahmahatyā/kapāla-bandha) drops from Bhairava’s hand, marking the spot as the place of release—symbolizing the cutting of pāśa (bondage) by Śiva’s grace.
Significance: Bathing/visiting is believed to remove heavy sins and ‘kapāla-bandha’ type afflictions; reinforces Kāśī as a kṣetra of rapid pāpa-kṣaya and mokṣa.
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It presents Shiva as Bhairava, the supreme Pati, who dissolves a binding impurity symbolized by the skull; the falling away of the kapāla signifies release from pāśa (bondage) and the arising of a tīrtha where seekers remember purification and freedom.
Bhairava is a Saguna manifestation of Shiva whose compassionate power transforms a physical event into a sacred place; such tīrthas and Lingas anchor devotion, remembrance, and grace in the world, guiding devotees from outer worship toward inner liberation.
Pilgrimage and purification are implied: visit or contemplate Kāpālamocana, worship Shiva/Bhairava with mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and seek inner ‘release’ by offering one’s impurities and egoic bondage into Shiva’s grace.